Bring back that new oleh feelin’

Way back when the oldest Shiputzim child was in 8^th grade, YZG and I were frequently asked how the Great High School Search was going.

Our standard response was that we sort of felt like we were new olim all over again.

I recall that one Israeli acquaintance was particularly taken aback by our answer.

“Still? After all these years?” he wondered in surprise.

And so I explained that we were unfamiliar with many of the schools and that we knew nothing about the high school application process. And then, of course, there were the bagruyot…

Yet, somehow, we managed to muddle through, and indeed, by the time the next Shiputzim child reached 8^th grade, we considered ourselves to be old pros.

But now that the post-high-school stage looms ever closer BA”H, YZG and I find ourselves firmly back in straight-off-the-proverbial-boat territory.

It’s not just that there are countless options, choices, tracks, and programs.

It’s the fact that lurking just beneath the surface of all those options, choices, tracks, and programs is… the army and all that it entails.

Seasonal time constraints permitting, I hope to IY”H bring you a number of different perspectives on this issue in the coming days. (And  if you’d like to write a guest post about being the parent of a chayal, hesdernik, bat sherut, etc., please contact me via the email address in the sidebar to the right.)

And in the meantime, the Our Shiputzim editorial board extends a heartfelt giyus kal v’na’im (literally, “an easy and pleasant enlistment”) to those who are currently being inducted into the IDF.

May Hashem watch over and protect all of Israel’s chayalim, and may they all come and go safely and l’shalom.

!שבוע טוב

May the coming week be one of besurot tovot, yeshu’ot, and nechamot (good tidings, salvation, and consolation).